Namibia · Desert Ride

THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL

Gravel, dunes and the Atlantic.

A grand loop from Windhoek: the Sossusvlei dunes, Sesriem canyon, the Skeleton Coast at Swakopmund, the granite of Spitzkoppe, the Twyfelfontein engravings and desert elephants of Damaraland, then Etosha National Park. Namibian gravel is smooth and predictable, traffic is almost nil and distances are vast. The ideal country to fall in love with gravel on a big adventure bike.

• Dune 45 and the Deadvlei pan
• The road along the Skeleton Coast
• The desert elephants of Damaraland
• A sunset game drive in Etosha

1. 01
   DAY 1 · Briefing

   Windhoek and collecting the bikes

   Pick-up at Hosea Kutako airport, a Windhoek guesthouse, bike paperwork and a gravel briefing. Dinner in the capital.

   Overnight: Guesthouse in Windhoek
2. 02
   DAY 2 · 330 km, gravel

   Spreetshoogte pass to Sesriem

   A few opening kilometres of tarmac, then the C26 and D1275 gravel over Spreetshoogte, the steepest pass in the country, dropping from 1,800 m to Solitaire and Sesriem.

   Overnight: Lodge near Sesriem
3. 03
   DAY 3 · 130 km, tarmac, dune walk

   Sossusvlei at dawn

   Off before light: 60 km of tarmac to the end of the road, a climb up Big Daddy dune and a walk to Deadvlei with its dead acacias. Sesriem canyon in the afternoon, then rest.

   Overnight: Lodge near Sesriem
4. 04
   DAY 4 · 350 km, gravel and salt road

   Across the Tropic of Capricorn to the ocean

   The C14 and C28 via the Gaub pass and Kuiseb canyon to Walvis Bay. The desert ends at the Atlantic and we sleep in Swakopmund.

   Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund
5. 05
   DAY 5 · Rest, servicing

   A day off in Swakopmund

   German architecture, the flamingo lagoon at Walvis Bay, Dune 7 and optional quad bikes or a flight over Sandwich Harbour. The mechanic services the bikes.

   Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund
6. 06
   DAY 6 · 300 km, salt and gravel

   The Skeleton Coast and Spitzkoppe

   North on the C34 salt road past the Cape Cross seals and shipwrecks, then inland to the granite massif of Spitzkoppe, 1,728 m.

   Overnight: Lodge at Spitzkoppe
7. 07
   DAY 7 · 250 km, gravel

   Damaraland and Twyfelfontein

   Via Uis and the Brandberg, the country’s highest point at 2,573 m, to the UNESCO rock engravings of Twyfelfontein. We look for desert elephants in the Aba-Huab riverbed.

   Overnight: Lodge at Twyfelfontein
8. 08
   DAY 8 · 310 km, gravel

   The Petrified Forest and Palmwag

   Petrified trees and the Organ Pipes, then the C43 via Palmwag and Kamanjab to the southern gate of Etosha. Stony gravel with plenty of wildlife by the road.

   Overnight: Lodge near Anderson Gate
9. 09
   DAY 9 · Game drive, 8 hours

   Etosha National Park

   Motorcycles are not allowed in the park, so the whole day is in an open safari vehicle: the Okaukuejo and Halali waterholes and the 4,800 sq km Etosha pan.

   Overnight: Lodge near Anderson Gate
10. 10
    DAY 10 · 280 km, tarmac and gravel

    Otjiwarongo and the Waterberg

    The B1 tarmac south to Otjiwarongo, then gravel to the Waterberg plateau with its 200-metre red cliffs. An evening walk up onto the plateau.

    Overnight: Lodge at the Waterberg plateau
11. 11
    DAY 11 · 280 km, tarmac

    Back to Windhoek

    Via Okahandja and its craft market to Windhoek. Bikes handed back and a farewell game dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse.

    Overnight: Guesthouse in Windhoek
12. 12
    DAY 12 · Transfer

    Flight home

    Breakfast and transfer to Hosea Kutako airport.

    Overnight: —